Paul Albert Wolfram

Services for Paul Albert Theodore Wolfram, will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Moffat Cemetery with Rev. Kevin Avery officiating. Burial will follow in Moffat Cemetery. Paul died Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in a Temple assisted living facility.

Paul was born January 17, 1925 in Dayton, Ohio to William Wolfram and Marie Redeiss Wolfram. He grew up in Dayton and lived in the Galveston area most of his adult life. He had lived in Temple for the past 13 years. He married Bernice Craig February 3, 1945 in Galveston and served in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Bernice Wolfram of Temple; three daughters, Thelma Glidewell of Topeka, KS, Carolyn Dickerson of Temple and Janet Salzmann of Temple; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Temple.

Paul Albert Wolfram was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Paul always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Paul was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Paul was born on January 17, 1925 at at home in Dayton, Ohio. His parents were William Frederick Wolfram and Marie Louise Redeiss. Paul was raised in Dayton, Ohio. Always able to express himself well, Paul possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Paul was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Paul was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Paul was raised with three siblings. He had three older brothers, Red, John, and Herman. Paul had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Paul showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Paul enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in football and baseball.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Paul was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite classes in high school were P. E. and shop.

Friends and acquaintances found Paul an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Paul was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were his brothers Red and John and his cousin Janet. Later in life, he became friends with Johnny and Jean Anderson, Johnny and Pauline Cates.

On February 3, 1945 Paul exchanged wedding vows with Bernice Leon Craig at the Chapel at Schoals Field of Galveston, Texas. Paul was attentive to Bernice's feelings, and he charmed Berniece and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Paul was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Paul identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Paul was blessed with three, three daughters, Thelma, Carolyn, and Janet. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren, Kenneth, Jennifer, Thomas, Dave, April, Sam, and Travis.

Paul was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Paul’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Paul was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Paul could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was as a Switchman for the railroad. He was employed at Texas City Terminal.

Paul was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. In the U.S. Army Air Corp. Paul saw action for World War II. He achieved the rank of Private First Class. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Paul enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were traveling, camping, and exploring with his metal detector. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Paul was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Paul played football and baseball. Recreational sports included Baseball in Military. Paul was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were #1 Baseball (Houston Astros), Football (Houston Oilers and Texans.)

Paul was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Paul worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout his later years, Paul was an active member of the Optimist Club Port Lavaca, TX.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Paul truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included going to Dayton, Ohio to visit family, camping in Big Bend, to visit kids.

Paul was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of his favorite pets was Mac, a Boston Terrier. They were best friends for 10 years. His family was rounded out by his recent dog, Flip.

When Paul’s retirement finally came in 1985, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to Temple in 1996. In retirement, he found new pleasure in walking and exploring Temple, Texas, loved classical Music and Big Band Music.

Paul passed away on December 21, 2010 at Sterling House Temple, Texas. He lived a long and full life. He is survived by his spouse, Bernice, 3 daughters Thelma, Carolyn and Janet. 7 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren. Services were held at Moffat Cemetery. Paul was laid to rest in Moffat Cemetery Temple, Texas.

Paul was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Paul had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Paul Albert Wolfram.